Pilot ejection device for toy plane



A ril 9, 1963 c. H. WHATLEY PILOT EJECTION DEVICE FOR TOY PLANE Filed Jan. 2, 1962 W m 7 m y m M g 3 w \1 .7 w F m United States Patent Ofiice 3,084,477 Patented Apr. 9, 1963 3,084,477 PILOT EJECTION DEVICE FOR TOY PLANE Curtis ll-I. Whatley, 307 Currie Ave., Killeen, Tex. Filed Jan. 2, 1962, Ser. No. 163,654 3 Claims. (Cl. 46-81) This invention relates generally to the field of model airplanes, and more specifically to a pilot ejection device for incorporating in the construction of a flying model airplane.

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide a model jet airplane which is launched by elast1c catapult and is designed so as to eject the pilot therefrom during the course of its flight, the said pilot being adapted for return to the ground by means of a parachute.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a pilot ejection device for a toy airplane which incorporates an elastically controlled delay mechanism which controls the time at which the pilot is ejected during the course of flight.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a device of the above class in combination with a Delta type aircraft which is designed to follow a substantially elliptical course so as to return to the sender at the completion of its flight.

A full understanding of the construction of this invention, together with further novel features and advantages, will be had from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the attached drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the airplane constructed according to this invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional side elevation of the airplane shown in the loaded position preparatory to flight.

FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing showing a typical flight pattern which is traversed by the airplane, and further showing the pilot having been ejected during the course of its flight.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawing.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the numeral 5 represents a substantially flat and triangular base which forms two wings 6 simulating the design of a Delta wing structure. The forward end of the triangular base 5 extends to form a closure 7 for the nose end 8 of a tubular body section 9. The closure is formed with a rectangular recess lli formed in its upper surface and is provided with a centrally formed slot 11 extending longitudinally through the recessed portion and rearwardly to terminate at 12 substantially beneath the cockpit area of the body. The body 9 has a cockpit opening 13 formed centrally in the upper sides thereof and is provided with an upstanding tail fin 14 to simulate the conventional shape of this type of aircraft.

A cockpit 15 is formed with a transparent dome 16 beneath which is located the figure of a pilot 17. The cockpit locates within the opening 13 as indicated in FIG. 2, and is provided with a horizontally extending slot 18 formed in the forward end thereof and disposed beneath the said cockpit opening. A small screw eye 19 is sealed to the top of the dome 16 and mounts a short elastic band 20 which extends rearwardly of the plane under tension to releasably engage over a rearwardly extending hook 21 disposed adjacent the forward edge of the tail fin 14. The cockpit is thus constantly urged outwardly and rearwardly of the opening 13 due to the tension in the band 20. A plastic parachute 22 having shroud lines 23 which are secured to the cockpit is suitably folded and disposed beneath the body of the cockpit during insertion into the cockpit opening 13 as indicated in FIG. 2, of the drawing.

The cockpit is retained in position by a tongue 24 which selectively engages within the slot 18 formed in the body thereof. The tongue is connected by a vertical member 25 to a plate 26 which slidably locates within the rectangular recess 10 formed in the closure 7 of the base 5. A strip 27 extends from the rear end of the plate 26 and terminates with an upwardly turned hook portion 28 disposed rearwardly of the cockpit opening 13. The hook portion 28 is connected to an elastic band 29 which extends rearwardly within the body 9 and terminates on a hook 30 anchored to the rear end 31 of the body. The hook 30 has a shaft 32 which extends through the rear end 31 and terminates with a crank 33 for selectively winding the elastic band 29 so as to retain the hook portion 28 in its rearmost position as indicated in FIG. 2. The crank 33 is provided with a small ballast 34 which effectively controls the rate at which the elastic band 29 will unwind when the plane is released.

A hook 35 is secured to the underside of the plate 26 and slidably projects through the slot 11 so as to protrude beneath the base of the airplane. A rubber band 36 engages about the hook 35 and extends forwardly thereof to terminate under tension over a recessed portion 37 formed in a catapult hook 38 which is secured beneath the nose end 8 of the base. This band constantly urges the plate 26 forwardly so as to release the tongue 24 from the slot 18 in the cockpit body.

In order to ensure a level flight and a realistic landing, the wings 6 are provided with upwardly extending foils 39 along their rear edge 40 as best seen in FIG. 1, of the drawing.

The plane is operated by first folding the parachute into a relatively compact body and locating the same beneath the cockpit which is then inserted into the opening 13. The band 20 is engaged with the hook 21 and the plate 26 is moved rearwardly within the body such that the tongue 24 engages in the slot 18 to retain the cockpit in position. The crank 33 is now rotated approximately forty five turns such that the hook portion 28 is restrained by the band 29 in its rearmost position. The rubber band 36 is positioned under tension between the hook 35 and the catapult hook 38. The plane may now be launched by means of an elastic catapult 41 and should be preferably launched into the wind at approximately sixty degrees. Upon release of the plane the crank 33 will start unwinding thus permitting the strip 27 to be moved forward under the action of the rubber band 36. When the hook portion 28 reaches the position indicated at 28' the tongue will have moved forward a similar extent as indicated at 24' thus disengaging with the slot 18 and permitting the cockpit to be sprung out of the opening 13 under the action of the elastic band 20. The parachute will now open and deliver the cockpit and pilot safely to the ground whilst the plane proceeds to complete its flight and come to a natural landing in the vicinity of the launcher.

From the foregoing, it is believed that the construction, operation and advantages of this invention will be fully apparent. However, since numerous modifications will occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the construction exactly to that shown and described, the scope of the invention being defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A pilot ejection device for a toy plane having a base mounting a hollow body, and comprising, a cockpit opening formed in the body, a cockpit removably located in said opening and extending into the body, an elastic band extending under tension between the top of the cockpit and a hook disposed on the body rearwardly of the opening, a slot formed in the cockpit in the forward end thereof and disposed beneath the upper edge of said opening, a tongue selectively engaging in the slot to retain the cockpit within the opening, a plate slidably mounted on the base and secured to the tongue, said plate extending rearwardly beneath the cockpit and terminating with an upwardly curved hook portion, means for'urging said hook portion rearwardly within the body for a predetermined period, a hook secured to the underside of the plate and projecting through a slot formed in said base, and tension means extending between the last mentioned hook and a forward portion of the base to urge said plate forwardly of the body to release the tongue from the slot in the cockpit.

2. A pilot ejection device according to claim 1, wherein said first mentioned means comprises an elastic band, a cranked shaft mounted upon the rear end of said base engaging with the band, said crank adapted to be turned so as to tighten the band and urge said hook portion rearwardly, said hook portion being free to travel forwardly within the body upon the unwinding of the turned crank, thereby permitting the cockpit to be ejected during the course or" flight of said toy plane.

3. A pilot ejection device according to claim 2, wherein said cockpit is secured to a parachute folded therebeneath and concealed Within said cockpit opening prior to ejection of the cockpit from the plane.

Shapiro July 7, 1953 Burgin Mar. 24, 1959 

1. A PILOT EJECTION DEVICE FOR A TOY PLANE HAVING A BASE MOUNTING A HOLLOW BODY, AND COMPRISING, A COCKPIT OPENING FORMED IN THE BODY, A COCKPIT REMOVABLY LOCATED IN SAID OPENING AND EXTENDING INTO THE BODY, AN ELASTIC BAND EXTENDING UNDER TENSION BETWEEN THE TOP OF THE COCKPIT AND A HOOK DISPOSED ON THE BODY REARWARDLY OF THE OPENING, A SLOT FORMED IN THE COCKPIT IN THE FORWARD END THEREOF AND DISPOSED BENEATH THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID OPENING, A TONGUE SELECTIVELY ENGAGING IN THE SLOT TO RETAIN THE COCKPIT WITHIN THE OPENING, A PLATE SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON THE BASE AND SECURED TO THE TONGUE, SAID PLATE EXTENDING REARWARDLY BENEATH THE COCKPIT AND TERMINATING WITH AN UPWARDLY CURVED HOOK PORTION, MEANS FOR URGING SAID HOOK PORTION REARWARDLY WITHIN THE BODY FOR A PREDETERMINED PERIOD, A HOOK SECURED TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE PLATE AND PROJECTING THROUGH A SLOT FORMED IN SAID BASE, AND TENSION MEANS EXTENDING BETWEEN THE LAST MENTIONED HOOK AND A FORWARD PORTION OF THE BASE TO URGE SAID PLATE FORWARDLY OF THE BODY TO RELEASE THE TONGUE FROM THE SLOT IN THE COCKPIT. 